Ake and Rukia walked side by side toward the Basketball Club.
They hadn't gone far when a loud, mocking laugh echoed from around the corner ahead.
"Hey, kid with the red hair! You think you're hot stuff, huh?"
"And walking around with such a cute girlfriend—how annoying."
"If you know what's good for you, let us teach you a lesson. Then hand your girlfriend over to me, got it?"
"Yeah, that's right!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Several delinquents in Ryonan High School uniforms appeared, laughing as they surrounded the pair.
Their faces twisted with sneers, eyes full of mockery and disdain.
They were Ryonan's infamous delinquents—the so-called "local tyrants."
Known for ganging up on others, they ruled the school through intimidation. Bullying freshmen was their favorite pastime.
And today, their targets were Ake and Rukia.
Students nearby froze. Some frowned with worry; others whispered nervously among themselves.
A few even watched in amusement, treating it like a show.
"This looks bad!"
"That new kid's about to get wrecked."
"Should we stop them?"
"Go ahead if you want to—I'm not messing with those guys."
Whispers rippled through the crowd. Most looked on helplessly, unwilling to get involved.
No one dared step forward. No one dared speak.
All they could do was watch as the "newcomer" was surrounded.
But Rukia, standing beside Ake, didn't show the slightest trace of fear. Her brows knit slightly, but her expression remained calm and composed.
Who was she, after all?
She was the third young lady of the Kamishiro family—a girl raised among power and privilege.
She had seen storms far greater than this.
These thugs weren't even worth her attention.
"Hey, brat, didn't you hear what we said?" one delinquent barked, stepping forward. He reached out roughly, trying to grab Ake's collar.
Rukia frowned, about to warn him—
But before she could speak, an icy chill suddenly filled the air.
It wasn't just cold—it was suffocating, bone-deep, and unnatural.
The sunlight seemed to dim. The air froze.
The laughter died instantly.
The delinquents' smirks stiffened.
Every one of them felt as though invisible chains had wrapped around their bodies, pressing down on their chests until they could barely breathe.
Their gazes instinctively turned to Ake.
He was still standing in the same spot, but his eyes were no longer calm.
The warmth in his mismatched eyes—one crimson, one gold—had vanished.
Now, they gleamed with a chilling sharpness, like blades drawn in silence.
That gaze… wasn't filled with rage. It wasn't even murderous.
It was cold. Detached. Absolute.
It was the kind of gaze that didn't need to threaten—because it simply was authority.
The delinquents froze, trembling uncontrollably. Their hearts pounded painfully in their chests.
The one closest to Ake—the loudest, most arrogant of them all—suddenly stumbled backward.
His legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground with a dull thud.
He didn't understand why, but an overwhelming terror gripped him.
It felt like defying this boy—even for a second—would lead to consequences beyond imagination.
"You…" Ake's voice was low and calm, yet it carried a weight that crushed the air itself.
"You're too arrogant."
His eyes locked with theirs.
For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.
No anger. No shouting.
Just pure, unshakable dominance—an aura that demanded submission.
The delinquents trembled harder. Their breathing turned ragged.
"Get lost…" Ake said quietly. His tone remained even, but every word sliced like a knife.
"I won't say it again."
Gulp.
The delinquents swallowed hard. Their legs wobbled like jelly. Fear clouded their eyes.
It felt as if they'd just been judged by something far beyond human.
None of them dared move.
Then, as if commanded, they scrambled to clear the way—stumbling and tripping over one another in their panic.
A few couldn't even stand properly.
Thud… thud…
Several collapsed again, faces pale, breathing shallow, minds blank with terror.
'I thought teenagers of this world looked like adults. I guess it's just appearances..'
Ake didn't spare them another glance.
He walked forward calmly, every step steady and unhurried, as though nothing had happened.
Rukia followed silently, her gaze fixed on his back.
That figure—straight, composed, and powerful—seemed to shine brighter than ever before.
Her heartbeat quickened despite herself.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks, soft as spring's first cherry blossoms.
Thankfully, Ake didn't turn around—otherwise, she would've been far too embarrassed to meet his eyes.
Only after the two disappeared down the hallway did the delinquents begin to breathe again.
They sat sprawled across the floor, gasping for air as if they'd just escaped the jaws of death.
"T-that was terrifying…"
"Wh-what the hell was that? Why were we so scared?"
"Ha! You were scared too!"
"Man, forget it… That guy's not someone we should mess with."
"Yeah. Agreed. Let's stay far away from him."
The group sat there in silence, still trembling, the fear lingering deep in their bones.
Meanwhile, the icy pressure that had filled the air moments ago had already vanished.
Ake's aura returned to normal—calm, composed, untouchable.
"Ake…"
A familiar voice suddenly called out from ahead, playful yet warm, carrying a tone of reunion.
Both Ake and Rukia stopped and turned toward the sound.
There, just around the corner, stood a tall boy waving at them. His trademark spiky hairstyle caught the sunlight, slightly tousled, giving him his usual carefree look.
That familiar smile.
That familiar presence.
The person standing there was none other than Akira Sendoh.